About the AuthorClimbing Magazine once computed that three percent of Chris McNamara’s life on Earth had been spent on the face of El Capitan – an accomplishment that left friends and family pondering Chris’s sanity. He has climbed El Capitan more than 70 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records. In 1998 Chris did the first Girdle Traverse of El Capitan, an epic 75-pitch route that begs the question, “Why?”

Outside Magazine called Chris one of “the world’s finest aid climbers.” He is the winner of the 1999 Bates Award from the American Alpine Club and founder of the American Safe Climbing Association, a nonprofit group that has replaced over 5000 dangerous anchor bolts. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and serves on the board of the ASCA and the Rowell Legacy Committee. He has a rarely updated adventure journal, maintains BASEjumpingmovies.com, and also runs a Lake Tahoe home rental business.

Thanks Mike for mentioning me. Although I did remove that
big photo thread I posted for awhile (people told me I
should not put so many of my photos up, because there are
people who will improperly use them). I guess I got scared
for a moment. That was probably an over-reaction,
but still others of mine float about. I have
at least as many photos from the golden age as Frost and Denny,
and many good shots, I would guess enough to put together
more than one book (with just the best of the shots).
I was a dedicated photographer throughout
my climbing years, and most people haven't seen a tenth of what
I have. I was digging through just the black and white negs,
and they are almost endless. It's a bit overwhelming to know
what to do with them all.... Somewhere, someday, when I'm gone
probably, someone will take the time to sort out the hidden,
unknown classics....

Pat you should farm some of those negs out to me and maybe some other willing participants? It would be a super cool project. I don't have a slide/neg scanner yet but I would buy one if you were interested.